Combination-action for organs



H. T.. DEPUE. COMBINATION. ACTION. FOR HGANS.

APPLICATION man ocT. al. 191s.

l1 349, 820. Patented Aug 17, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEEY l.

WETNESSES /1 ATToRNEY.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. T. DEFUE.

COMBlNATN ACTION FOR RGNS.

APPLICATION man on?. 31, 191e. 1,349,820.

' ATTORNEYS.

WITN ESSES UNITED STATES HAROLD T. DEPUE, OF KENSINGTON, MARYLAND.

COMBINATION-ACTION FOR ORGANS.

Application filed October 31, 1916.

To all wlw/a t may concern Be it known that I, HAnoLn T. DnrUn, acitizen oi" the United States, residing at Kensington, in the county orisilontgomery and State of Maryland, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Combination-Actions for Organs, of which thefollowing is a specification.

T his invention has reference to combination-actions ior organs, andparticularly of the type of organs known as electric organs.

The object ot the invention is to simplify the action to a minimumnumber of parts, and thereby minimize or practically eliminate allliability ot :iailure oi' the combination to properly operate.

ln combination-actions in practical use there is a large amount ofintermediate mechanism between the setter action and the devices,usually called motors, which actually move the organ stops themselves.

In accordance with the present invention there are as many groups ofelectric switches as may be necessary to provide the desired number olcombinations. These groups of' switches, because the switches of' eachgroup are associate-d to operate in whole or in part as a combinationunit, are termed gang switches. The gang switches are under the directcontrol oi the customary tablets or draw stops without the necessity ofany intermediate mechanism or devices except what may be directlymounted on the draw bars or traces ot the stop-setter-action. Theseswitches each control certain devices called motors which in turnactuate the stops, whether such motors be electric or electro-pneumaticin construction and operation because oit the elimination in greaterpart or minimizing of the intermediate mechanism or devices there is acorresponding minimi/:ing and a practical elimination of liability orfailure ot some portion of the combination to operate, for greatdiiiiculty has hereto fore been experienced in provi ding a combinationactipn in which there is not the liability oiE some portion failing toproperly work at a critical movement.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming part of this speciiication, with thefurther understanding that while the drawings show a practical form ofthe invention, the latter is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

Serial No. 128,769.

not coniined to any strict conformity with the showini-' of thedrawings, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes andmodifications come within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an end elevation ot' mechanism of the present inventionmaking up a part of a combination action, certain other parts of theorgan action being indicated partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the arrangement of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. l, but drawn on a largerscale.

Fig. el is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating the electric connections.

Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views of modified forms.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a manual l of an organ, andthis manual may be considered as part of a console containing as manymanuals as desired.

Mounted in. a suitable support or framework 2, which may be of anydesired construction, are stop rods or traces 3 forming part of the stopsetter action and varying in number and arrangement in accordance withthe particular organ. Each trace 8 is under the control of a tiltingtablet el, or of a knob or of any manual device employed in organs foroperating the stop setter actions, by which term couplers are intendedto be included for simplicity oi description. Each trace 3 is under thecontrol ol" an actuating 'device 5 by which the trace may be moved outor in without manipulation of the tilting tablet 4 or other such member.The device 5 is customarily termed a motor, and so far as this inventionis concerned such motor may be a pneumatically-operated devicecontrolled electrically or it may bean electric device ot any suitableform, such devices being common in either pneumatic or electricorgans,or combinations of the two, and hence no particular description orspecific showing of the device 5 is deemed necessary. The device 5 asshown in Figs. 1 and 2 and indicated in Fig. G, is a double-actingdevice capable of moving the trace 3 either out or in. The structure ofthis device has nothing to freely swing in one direction from a CIKpendent position, but is held from swinging in the other direction by ashoulder 9 at one end of the recess 8. yl`he tappets 6 are arranged inpairs spaced apart a suitable distance inV the direction of the lengthof the respective trace 3 and capable of swinging on axes perpendicularto the length of the trace,so that each tappet will swing in a planelengthwise of the trace 3. Each trace 3 may carry one or more pairs ofopposed taopets 6, and these tappets perform a function which willhereinafter appear.

Mounted below the traces 3, but in coactive relation thereto, is asuitable number of gang switch carriers 10. Since in organ constructionmany of the parts are made of wood, each carrier 10 may also be made ofwood in the form of a suitably elongated strip with longitudinalchannels 11, and 12. Each carrier 10 is mounted near the ends on rockerarms 13, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, one end 14; of each arm beingpivotally connected to a respective carrier and the other end 15 of eacharm being pivotally mounted in a block or support 16, or in any suitablefixed part of the organ structure. rlhe arrangement of the rocker arms13 is such that when the carrier is moved in the direction of its lengtheach end moves through an arc described about the axis of the pivot end15 of the respective `arms 13, so that a carrier when moved from a lowerposition of rest to a higher position moves both in the direction of thelength of the carrier and through a rising arc. T he arms 13 and theextent of travel of the carriers 10 are so related that when a carrieris moved to its elevated position it always has a normal tendency todrop back to the lower position by gravity.

Each channel 11 has side walls 17. EX- tending lengthwise through eachchannel 11 is a rod 18 which may bemade of a metal wire since the rod 18is utilized as an electric conductor, as will hereinafter' appear.

lrioiinted upon the rod 18 so as to swing crosswise of the carrier areswitch arms 19 which may be in the form of flat strips ofV clip may beconveniently made ,of a strip of sheet metal appropriately bent uponitjself to constitute the body of the clip and the opposed springfingers 21, and the intermediate portion of the strip may then be formedinto an eye 22 to receive and hold one end of a conductor 23. A carrier10 may be provided with as many switches 19 as are desired. There are,of course, an appropriate number of conductors 23, and these may belocated within the channel 11 and carried out through one end thereof inthe form of a bundle or cable. The conductors 23 may be of small andtherefore a bundle of conductors is relatively quite {ieX- iole andsuliiciently flexible to avoid interference with the easy movement ofthe carriers 10 on their pivot supports.

The tappets 6 are so related to the switches 19 that when a gang switchcarrier 10 is elevated the switch arms 19 are in the path of the tappet6. Now, if under such conditions a rod or trace 3 be moved lengthwiseone or the other of the tappets 6 will engage the switch arm 19. lf themovement be such that the side of the tappet toward the correspondingshoulder' 9 be the one engaging the switch arm, the tappet 6 will simplyride idly over the switch arm and drop to the other side thereof. if theswitch arm be so related to the tappet that the latter engages theswitch arm on the side remote from the corresponding shoulder 9, thenthe tappet will move the switch arm on its pivot ntil it is carried awayfrom the particular clip with which it was in engagement and is movedinto engagement with the opposite clip 20. By this means 'the switcharms may be readily set into engagement with one or the other of thepair of clips belonging to it by corresponding movements of the stoprods or traces, but this occurs only when the respective carriers 10 arelifted away from their normal lowered position, so that the switch armsare in the path of one or the other ofl the tappets 6 of the respectivepairs thereof.

The circuit connections have in most part been omitted from Figs. 1 to5, but are shown in the diagram of Fig. 6 where the -mechanical partsare in the main illustrated diagrammatically rather than structurally.

While any suitable source of electric current may be employed, whethersuch source be in the form of a battery or a suitable dynamo-electricgenerator, or street current be utilized, there is shown in Fig. 6 abattery 24, which is to be taken Vas indicative of any suita le currentsource. The conductors 23 leading from one of each pair of clips 20 areeach connected up to one side 5fL of a respective motor 5, while theconductors leading from the other clips 20 of the pairs of clips` andfor differentiation designated as conductors 23a, each lead to theother' side of the motor 5, designated 5" in Fig. 6. These motor members5a and 5b may be of the electric type or the electricpneumatic type,neither' of which is indicated in detail in the drawing, because oftheir known construction. In Fig. 6 the two members 5"' and 5b of themotors 5 are schematically indicated by simple rectangles. Each motormember 5a and 5" is connected on one side to a common conductor 25leading to a switch contact 26 in the path of a switch arm 27 connectedby a conductor 28 to one side of the current source 24. In the path ofthe switch arm 27 is another contact terminal 29 connected by aconductor 3() to electromagnets 31 designed to actuate the carriers 10,and for this purpose the latter may eachv have at one end an armature 32within the lield of influence ot the respective magnet 31. Here, again,electro-pneumatic motors may be employed instead of electromagnets, andsince both forms of motor devices are well known in the organ art, noparticular showing or description thereoi is deemed necessary. Eachmagnet 81 has its other side connected to a respective one of contactterminals 33 having other contact terminals 34 associated therewith andunder the control of push buttons 35, which in the organ art arecustomarily known as pistons. The respective terminals 33 are connectedby corresponding conductors 36 to respective rods 18 of the switchcarriers 10. The contact terminals controlled by the pistons 35 areconnected to a common return conductor 37 in turn connected to the otherterminal of the eurrent source 24.

lhen it is desired to set one or lnore ot the combinations the switcharm 27 is moved into engagement with the contact 29, thus coupling themagnets 31 up to the current source 24 so tar as the switch arm 27 isconcerned, New, a suitable one of the pistons 2:15 is manipulated, thusclosing the circuit between the corresponding terminals and 3-1. Theappropriate one of the magnets 31 is thus energized and a correspondingcarrier 1l) is drawn from its normal lowered or drop position to theelevated or active `position. Il the stop knobs 'or tablets t bemaniipiulated so as to insure that all the switch arms 19 be in oneposition in the carrier 1l), then the knobs or tablets it is desireafishould be included in the combination are drawn out, whereby all theswitches 19 corresponding to such stop knobs are moved from the firstposition into engagement with those clips 20 on the opposite side of thecarrier, the remaining switches staying in the first position. Now, theparticular' piston 35 irst manipulated and held. to maintain the switchcarrier 10 in the elevated position is released, whereupon the switchcarrier 10 drops to the lower position out of the way of any ot' thetappets on the `traces associated with such carrier 10. The sameoperation is performed with respect to such other gang switches as it isdesired Should be set to provide for combinations.

After all the combinations have been set, and these combinations mayinclude both the ordinary stops and couplers, the switch arm 2T is movedfrom the contact 29 and either allowed to remain in the open positionuntil needed, or moved directly on to the contact 2G. li', now, anappropriate one of' the pistons 35 be moved to close the correspondingcontacts 33 and 31, there is established a circuit which may be tracedfrom the current source through the conductor 3T, ci'ujztacts 33 and 31,and by way oit an appropriate conductor 'to the correslpimnii-ng rod 1H,and thence by way of the switch arms l) to one side 5" or the other side5y ot the respective motors 5, and. by way of the return conductors 25again. to the current source 2l.. The result is that those sides ot' themotors 5 included in the circuit are all energized and the stop rodsl ortraces 3 it not already in the position to which they would be moved bythe respective motor elements, are so moved, so that the stops which itis desired should be included in the combination are all simultaneouslymoved to the active position.

Sugpose that in the couise of the remlition oif a piece o't' musicanother combination is desired. T hen another one olf' the pistons 255is moved to close the corresponding circuit and another grouping ofstops is brought about, and as the second set combination may includethe same stops as the 1 combination, but with the motors coupled updifferently to produce the second combination, some of those stop knobsor tablets which have been projected will be withdrawn and others whichwere previously in the withdrawn position will be projected.

The presence of the cinnbination action does not in any manner interferewith individual use oi" the stop knobs or tablets and they may be drawnout or pushed in, as desi red.

ln the showing of Figs. 1 and 2 it is assumed that the action isarranged for three combinations with as many stops as desirable and,moreover, the parts are shown in position where one gang switch is readyfor the manipulation of the stop tablets to set a desired combination onthe gang switch. lt more than one combination is desired then anotherone or more of the gang switches is subsequently elevated and arrangedto provide the desired combination.

ln Fig. 6 the assumption is that there are two gang switches, although,of course, any number may be employed. These gang switches are assumedto embrace the same lib stops and the switches 19 of each gang switchare connected to the same motors 5.

Suppose, now, that after the desired combinations have been set it isdesired to play the organ, but not with the particular' combinationscontrolled by the set gang switches. r'he stop knobs or tablets may bemanipulated in the usual way. This does not aliiect the gang switches,since they are out of the path of the stop rods or traces. lit in theYcoursev of the playing of the organ it should become desirable to employthe particiiilar combinations for which the gang switches are set, anappropriate one of the pistons 35 is pushed in to close the circuit atthe terminals 33 and 3a until the motors 5 have been energized and haveactuated the respective stops in the proper directions. ln this waythose stop knobs which may have been pulled out in the preliminaryplaying, but are not included in the combination, are drawn back andthose stop knobs which are not already out but are included in thecombination are projected. ldhen one of the other combinations isdesired the appropriate piston 35 is pushed and the new combinationbecomes active.

rllhe entire action is marked by extreme simplicity of construction.

Each stop or coupler has two automatic operating means, one to move thestop rod or trace out and the other to draw it in. rlhere are as manygang switches as there are combinations to be made, and each switch hasa motor and piston or push but ton 'for moving it into setting orresetting position, that is, into operative relation to the stops. Eachgang switch has the same number of individual switches as there arestops and couplers in the manual to which it belongs. ln the case or'more compre hensive arrangements, which in some instances may includethe whole organ, there are as many individual switches as there arestops and couplers inthe entire instrument.

lJVhen many gang switches are to be used, it is advisable to make themas narrow as possible, so that they may occupy a mini: mum floor space.F or this purpose the structure shown in Fig. 7 is advantageous. ln suchstructure the carrier comprises a body strip 10:L with another strip 10bat about midway and carrying a conductingrod 18 on which a gang ofdouble-ended switch blades 19 are mounted. Also mounted en the carrierare switch terminals 20 like those already described and in the path oilthe opposite end portions et theblades 19% Otherwise the structure maybe the same as described with reference to the preceding figures ofdrawing. Y

lWhere the space to the rear of the console is too limited to permit thegang switches to be arranged as shown in the preceding ligures, theswitches may be set, as shown 1n F ig. 8, in an upright series with thestop rods 3 also arranged upright and connected by bellcrank levers 3 toother rods 3b controlled by the tablets or knobs et.V ln such case thetappets G are replaced by otherV tappets 6a and 6b, the tappets 6a beingsimilar to the tappets 6, while the tappets Gb have extended orcounterweighted ends 6 for holding said tappets 6b in a horizontalposition against the corresponding shoulders 9. rllhe operation of thestructure of VFig. S is the same as that of Fig. l and Aassociatedligures and requires no special description.

Wha-t is claimed is 1 Y l. A combination actioni'or electric orelectro-pneumatic ore'ans provided with a stop-setter action, groups oi"associated electric switches and means tor moving each group as a wholeinto and out of operative relation to the stop sette1 action ior theselective actuation of the switches by said stop setter action.

2. fr combination action 'for electric or electro-pneumatic organshaving stop setter actions, comprising groups or' associated electricswitches with eachgroup movable as a whole into and out of operativerelation to the stop setter action Jfor the selective actuation et theswitches by said stop setter action, electrically controlled motivemeans for the stop setter action, electric connections from the switchesoit the groups to said motive means, and circuit controlling meanscommon to all the switches ot a group.

S. A combination action for an electric or electro-pneumatic organ,comprising a stop setter action and electrically controlled motive meansfor said stop setter action, a gang` switch provided with as manyindividual switches as there are stops to be controlled by said gangswitch, setting means on the stop setter action for directly actuatingthe individual switches of the gang switclnelectric connections betweeneach individual switch ot the gang switch and a corresponding motivemeans for a stop, and ircuit closing` and opening means common to allthe circuits between the individual switches oit the gang switch and thecorresponding motive means for the stop setter action.

e'. A. combination action lor electric or electro-pneumatic organscomprising stopsetting devices and motive means therefor, a gang switchincluding group oit switches movable into and out of operative relationto a group of stop-setting devices, said switches having contacts andconnections therefor to the motive means for the stop setting devicesfor moving each device in one direction when the switch is on oneContact and in the other direction when the switch is on anothercontact, and means on each stop-setting device for actuating arespective individual switch of the gang switch when the latter is inoperative relation to the stop setting device.

5. A combination action tor an electric or electro-pneumatie organ,provided with manually operable stop setting devices each having motivemeans for moving the stop into or out of active position, electric meansfor causing the actuation of the stop setting devices in one directionor the other and comprising a gang switch having individual switches andcontacts therefor with connections to the motive means for the stopsetting devices to cause the latter to be actuated in one or the otherot the two directions ot movement, means on the stop setting devicesttor actuating the switches of the gang switch, and circuit-controllingmeans for causing the simultaneous energization ot all the motive meansconnected to the gang switch.

6. A combination action for electric or electro pneumatic organs havingstop-setting devices, and electrically controlled motive means for thestop setting devices, a gang switch including a group ot switchesmounted to move into and out of operative relation to group ot stopsetting devices and having contacts individual to the switches,connections between the contacts and respecti fe motive means 'for thestop setting devices, and means on the stop setting devices for engagingthe switches when the gang switch. is in operative relation to the stopsetting devices to move the switches into engagement with one or theother ot the contacts individual thereto.

7. A combination action 'lor electric or electro-pnclimatic organshaving stop setting devices and electrically controlled motive means'tor the latter, a gang switch including a plurality ot switchesandmounted to move into and out oii operative relation to a group oitstop-setting devices and provided with contacts individual to theswitches, coniicctions between the contacts and respective motive meansfor the stop setting devices, and means on the stop setting devices forengaging the switches when the ga'ng switch is in operative relation tothe stop setting devices to move the switches into engagement with oneor the other of the contacts individual to lthe respective switches,theI gang switch having a normal tendency to move out 'itt operativerelation to the stop setting devices, and means 'for moving the gangswitch into operative relaticn to the stop setting devices.

Sa A combination action for electric or electro-pneumatic organs havingstop setting means with electrically controlled motive means for movingthe stop setting means on or off, a group of switches corresponding innumber to a chosen group of stop setting means, a mounting for theswitches for moving the group of switches bodily into and out ofoperative relation with the stop setting means, and means on thestop-setting means for actuating the switches when in operative relationto the stop setting means into position to control the motive means forthe stop setting means.

9. A combination action for electric or electro-pneumatic organs havingstop setting devices and electrically controlled motive means for movingthe stop setting devices on or off, a group of switches corresponding innumber to a chosen group of stop setting devices, a mounting for thegroup of switches, electrically controlled means for moving the mountinginto position to bring the group of switches into operative relation tochosen stop setting devices, :xnd means on the stop setting devices foractuating the switches when in operative relation thereto into positionto control the motive means for said stop setting devices.

l0. A combination action for electric or electro-pneumatic organs havingstop setting devices and electrically controlled motive means for movingthe stop setting devices on or ott), a group of switches correspondingin number to a chosen group of stop setting devices, a carrier 'for thegroup of switches, electrically controlled means for moving the carrierinto position to bring the group of switches into operative relation tochosen stop setting devices, and means on the stop setting devices foractuating the switches when in operative relation/thereto into positionto control the.

motive means ior said stop setting devices, said combination action alsoincluding switch means common to all of the firstnamed switches forsimultaneously closing the circuit therethrough to the motive means forthe stop setting devices.

11. A ycombination action for electric or electro-pneumatic organshaving manually controllable stop-setting means and provided withelectrically controlled motive means for moving the stop setting meanson and off, a group or gang of switches and a carrier therefor with eachswitch having two contacts associated therewith and into engagement witheither of which the switch is movable, said contacts being connected tothe motive means for controlling the latter, means on the stop settingmeans for vcausing the actuation of the switches to establish acombination, means for bodily moving a gang of switches into operativerelation to the stop setting means to permit the setting otthecombination, said carrier being movable to another position out ofoperative relation to the stop setting means, and a switch common to allthe group or gang of switches for closing the circuits through theswitches to the motive means, whereby a set combination may be madeeffective directly through the stops.

l2.' A combination action for electric or electro-pneumatic organshaving stop setting means with electrically controlled ino- -tivc meanstherefor, comprising as many gang switches as the greatest numberv ofoinbinations ,to .be established'at any one time.l eezh gang switchcomprising a groug of switches and Va carrier therefor movable into andout of operative relation toa chosen group oi' stop-setting devices,each individ" ual switch of a gang switchhaving a pair of contactsconnected to a motive means for a `corresponding' stop setting device tocause the projection or withdrawal of said device in accordancewith thecontact with which the switch is in engagement, electrically controlledmeans for movingeach gang switch into operative rela-tion to arespective group of stop-setting devices, with the gang switch having anormal tendency to Ymove out ci operative relation to said stop settingde'- vices, circuit-controlling means for including the electricallycontrolled means for moving the gang switch or the motive means foractuating the stop setting devices, and circuit controlling means forestablishing electric circuits for the actuation of the first-namedcircuit controlling means.

13. A combination a'ctionrfor electric or electro-pneumatic organshaving manually controlled stop setting devices each provided withelectrically controlled motive means for the projection or retraction ofsaid stop setting devices, gangV switches in number corresponding to thenumber of combinations ifor which the organ is designed, each gangswitch comprising a carrier with as .many .individual'switches thereonas there ere stops in the group for which the gang switch is adapted,each individual switch of the gang switch having a pair of contacts intoengagement with either of which the individual switch is movable,electrical connections from each contact to a respective one of themotive means lfor the stop setting devices, a mounting for the carrieron which it may be moved into operative relation to lcorresponding'group of stop setting devices 'roin a position out of operative relationthereto, electrically controlled means for ellecting the movement of thecarrier to bring the gang switch in-to operative relation to the stopsetting devices, one-way devices on each stop setting device forengaging respective switches of the gang switch, and circuit connectionsto the electrically 'controlled actuating means for the gang switch]carriers and to the motive means for the stop setting devices.

ln testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signature in the presenceV of twowitnesses.

, HAROLD Vr. nieren.

l"Vitnesses Y JOSEPH Kiss, L. FRED KLooz.

